Phlox plant named ‘Sunphlorozu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Sunphlorozu’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching and flowering habit; long flowering period; red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Phlox drummondii.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNPHLOROZU’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phloxplant, botanically known as Phlox drummondii and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Sunphlorozu’.

The new Phlox plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of aproprietary selection of Phlox drummondii identified as code number9Ph-17a, not patented. The new Phlox was discovered and selected by theInventor from within a population of plants of the parent selection in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in August,2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox plant by cuttings in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since September,2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Phlox plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phlox have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sunphlorozu’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Sunphlorozu’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofPhlox:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching and flowering habit.    -   4. Long flowering period.    -   5. Red purple-colored flowers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Phlox differ from plants of the female parentselection primarily in flower color as plants of the parent selectionhave more violet-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Phlox can also be compared to plants of Phloxdrummondii ‘Sunphlopin’ , disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,361. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plantsof the new Phlox and ‘Sunphlopin’ differed in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox were broader than plants of        ‘Sunphlopin’.    -   2. Plants of the new Phlox had shorter internodes than plants of        ‘Sunphlopin’.    -   3. Plants of the new Phlox had smaller leaves than plants of        ‘Sunphlopin’.    -   4. Plants of the new Phlox and ‘Sunphlopin’ differed in flower        color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Phlox, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Phlox.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunphlorozu’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalflowers of ‘ Sunphlorozu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, undercommercial practice during the late spring and early summer in anoutdoor nursery with day temperatures averaging 23° C. and nighttemperatures averaging 13° C. Plants had been growing for five monthswhen the photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox drummondii ‘Sunphlorozu’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of a proprietary    selection of Phlox drummondii identified as code number 9Ph-17a, not    patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About two to three weeks at 20° C.            to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About one to two            months at 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/habit.—Upright and outwardly spreading plant            habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit with            lateral branches potentially developing at every node;            pinching enhances branching.        -   Plant height.—About 15.2 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 25 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 13 cm. Diameter: About            1.3 mm. Internode length: About 6 mm. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 2.3 cm.        -   Width.—About 7 mm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base:.—Truncate to cordate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137C; venation, close to 145B. Developing and fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B; venation,            close to 145B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single rotate flowers arranged in            terminal and axillary cymes; flowers face mostly upright.            Cymes roughly hemispherical in shape. Freely flowering habit            with about three open flowers per inflorescence.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering from spring            to autumn in Japan.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about five days on            the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.7 mm.            Shape: Clavate. Color: Close to 75A.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 3.7 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 6.9 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.7 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 1.7 cm.        -   Tube length.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Tube diameter, base.—About 1.6 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Length:            About 1.4 cm. Lobe width: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Broadly            rhombic. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces and throat: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, tube:            Pubescent. Color: Developing and fully expanded petals,            upper surface: Close to N66B, towards the base, close to            71A. Developing and fully expanded petals, lower surface:            Close to 69D; towards the margins, close to 64B. Throat:            Close to N77B. Tube: Close to 17D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl, fused towards the base; calyx star-shaped. Length:            About 3.4 mm. Width: About 1.4 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:            Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Color, developing and fully expanded            sepals, upper surface: Close to 137C. Color, developing and            fully expanded sepals, lower surface: Close to 137C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 mm to 10 mm. Diameter: About            1 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to            144B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 5.8 mm. Diameter: About 0.6 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            five. Stamen length: About 5 mm to 12 mm. Anther shape:            Lanceolate. Anther size: About 2 mm by 0.7 mm. Anther color:            Close to 13B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close            to 13B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length:            About 4.1 mm. Stigma shape: Three-parted. Stigma color:            Close to 151C. Style color: Close to 144C. Ovary color:            Close to 144A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the Phlox have not been observed    to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Phlox.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures ranging from about 0° C. to about 35° C.

1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘Sunphlorozu’ as illustrated anddescribed.